By CLARE FARNSWORTH, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Published 9:00 pm, Monday, March 28, 2005

KIRKLAND -- It has become apparent in his first five weeks on the job that president of football operations Tim Ruskell has a vision for the Seahawks.

He wants people of character, individuals who will put the needs of the team ahead of their own and will outwork the guy next to him.

"It's something that I pass on to our scouting staff and our college scouts -- not only rate the ability level, but the guy you're bringing in," Ruskell said yesterday. "Because, really, ultimately that will determine if he's going to reach that grade that you give him. His character -- his football character and his personal character -- will tell you if he's going to reach that. Not just the grade itself. ... That's just ingrained in what I am as a scout and an evaluator and a director."

Ruskell was asked about this all-character, all-the-time philosophy during his first news conference since he was hired Feb. 23. He came equipped with a visual aid: Joe Jurevicius, the veteran wide receiver who signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks on Friday.

Jurevicius and Ruskell were together in Tampa when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.

"That year, one of the most amazing things I witnessed was his professional and personal sacrifice to help us win a Super Bowl," Ruskell said. "I'll never forget it. It is imprinted on my mind."

The personal sacrifice involved the illness of Jurevicius' young son, Michael, who died March 24, 2003. The professional surrender came when Jurevicius didn't just say he would do anything to help the team win, but did it by catching eight passes for a 24.6-yard average in the postseason -- including a 71-yarder to set up the go-ahead score in the NFC Championship Game against Philadelphia.

"Joe is a real tough guy," Ruskell said. "Great family (his wife, Meagan, is from Mercer Island). Loves the game of football. Gives it everything he has. He's a big, physical guy. He brings all that to the locker room and to the team.

"He doesn't like people who don't work hard, and he does work hard. He'll do the little things. He's a nice presence. He's a great team guy."

Works for Jurevicius, a low-mileage 30-year-old who has played only 15 games the past two seasons because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2003) and a herniated disk in his lower back (2004).

"Hopefully what I can add will be veteran leadership, maybe an identity on offense," Jurevicius said. "Just be able to mix in with the guys we have here and win a lot of football games."

He brings several things that are missing from the Seahawks' current group of receivers: A bigger target (6-feet-5, 230 pounds) for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck; a veteran receiver at the No. 4 spot where the club has yet to have success with younger receivers; sure hands for a crew that has ranked among the league leaders in fewest dropped passes the past two seasons; and insurance should Koren Robinson run into more off-field problems.

"I have played all four receiver positions, and I think that is pretty important to know," said Jurevicius, who played in a version of the West Coast offense with the Bucs. "I know we have some great receivers here, and I'm just looking to come here and help this football team win. That's always kind of been my motto."

Ruskell isn't saying Alexander will be traded, as has been widely speculated since the Pro Bowl running back was given the franchise tag last month. But he's not saying it won't happen, either.

The club has given Alexander's agent permission to seek a trade for less than a first-round draft choice, but there has been no market -- as is the case with the Colts' Edgerrin James and the Bills' Travis Henry.

"Something's going to have to have to happen," Ruskell said. "Everybody is just kind of stuck. ... There's just a dance going on now. It's a very slow dance."

The defense.

After climbing from No. 28 to No. 19 in their first season under coordinator Ray Rhodes in 2003, the Seahawks slipped to No. 26 last season.

"Defense is about the attitude," Ruskell said. "That's a big part of what we're trying to do, is bring some guys in that have that attitude, have that character about them. That will improve the defense, even though it might not be a marquee guy that you're bringing in."

HAWK TALK: Free-agent quarterback Shaun King (Cardinals) is expecting to talk with the Seahawks this week about their vacant backup spot, though the club has no visits planned at this time. ... Linebacker Anthony Simmons, released this month by the Seahawks, is drawing interest from Chicago. ... Free-agent defensive end Courtney Brown (Browns), who visited the Seahawks last week, has decided to sign with Denver. Seattle never was a serious contender to sign Brown.